Olive Cotton Award winner announced
Lennox Head photographer, Natalie Grono, has been named the winner of the $20,000 2015 Olive Cotton Award at Tweed Regional Gallery, Murwillumbah. The 'haunting and beautiful' work, Pandemonium's shadow, was selected from the 82 finalists, which included both emerging and established photographers selected from 350 entries.
The award is funded by Olive Cotton's family in her memory. Cotton was considered one of Australia's leading twentieth century photographers. This year, photographer and documentary filmmaker, Stephen Dupont, judged the work, stating that Grono's work had struck him in the first round of the selection process. "It's the image I kept being drawn to," he said. "I find it intriguing and haunting and beautiful; the harsh light and shadow work wonderfully and perfectly."
Besides Grono, five Highly Commended awards were also given. Recipients were:
- The killing of Miller's Point (Pat and Brandy), 2015 by Sahlan Hayes
- Christopher Bates, 2014 by Tobias Titz
- Dave Faulkner - the Guru takes tea, 2014 by Stuart Spence
- Man unknown, Venice, 2015 by Zofia Nowicka
- Amara, 2015 by Elise Searson of Brisbane
Through the Friends of Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre Inc, Gallery Director Susi Muddiman OAM selected five works for purchase for the Gallery's permanent collection:
- Seafarer Peter Hegney, Newcastle, 2014 by Brett Boardman
- Estella, 2014 by Hilary Walker
- Heather, 13, 2015 by Rhiannon Tully
- George Howard White, 2014 by Michele Aboud
- Piero, 2014 by Frances Valentine
The Olive Cotton Award exhibition is on display until Sunday, 27 September.
Gallery hours: Wednesday to Sunday 10am-5pm.